Bear Hunting License Tips in Michigan
If you’re a new hunter trying to understand how to get a license to hunt bears in Michigan, you’ve landed on the right page. Michigan’s application season starts May 1st! I’ve hunted in both the upper and lower peninsula of Michigan. I have three sons who are hoping to hunt black bears in the future. Keeping up with the DNR rules, preference points, and application season is very important to our family.
I love sharing my passion for hunting and supporting new hunters. So let’s break down how this works in Michigan.
Hunting for a black bear is different from deer because you have to apply for a lottery drawing and hope you get selected. It’s not like purchasing a deer tag one day and going hunting the next. If you want to hunt the black bear season you have to plan ahead. And that planning starts in May.
Other states like Maine, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and North Carolina sell bear licenses over the counter. Keep in mind, if you are new to hunting, out-of-state resident license tags cost more than in-state residents. If you are a resident of Michigan and have hopes of hunting black bears one day, keep reading.
Step one: Apply for a bear tag or a preference point.
First, you have to apply. The application is open from May 1 – June 1. You can apply for one license which costs $5. Or, if you’re not ready to hunt yet, you can purchase a preference point for $5 and give yourself a better chance of getting selected in the lottery. We’ll explain this as we continue.
Step two: Wait for the lottery drawing.
Then, after submitting your application, you’ll wait for the lottery drawing to take place and to be notified if you were selected for a bear tag. Drawing results will be announced in late June. You can check your status by logging into the DNR website. If you are selected, congratulations! If not, your application will convert to a preference point and be saved for future lotteries.
Step three: Purchase a bear license.
If you are notified that you were selected for a bear tag, the next step is to purchase your license. The cost is $25 at the time of this post. You can buy your Michigan bear license online, at a local retail store, or a DNR office. Check the “Buy and Apply” section of the michigan.gov website and map locator for more information.
Step four: Leftover licenses.
Lastly, what do you do if didn’t get selected for a Michigan bear tag? Or if you missed the application window. Good news! You can try again in late July when the DNR announces any leftover licenses.
Now let’s talk about some of the terms you need to know for hunting black bears in Michigan.
Definition of Bear Hunting License Terms:
Bear Management Unit (BMU)
An area of land managed by the DNR. Hunters can select which bear unit they want to hunt on their application. Pay close attention to how different units offer more bear licenses on the available map. You will need more preference points saved up for some areas. You can review all the information and charts in the Michigan Bear Hunting Regulations Summary.
The largest bear unit is in Baraga, hunting season 3, with an 810 license quota. I have hunted in the Baldwin unit which has a license quote of around 395 and only one hunting period. I’ve also hunted in Newberry in the upper peninsula where the license quota ranges from 215-555, and three hunting periods. The Baldwin area is known for being one of the most difficult to draw a tag.
Bear Hunt Drawing (or Draw)
A system managed by the DNR for selecting hunters who are awarded a bear license for the season. Outdoorsmen who have accumulated the most preference points are selected first.
Preference Points
They are a reward system that supports limited license draws like Black Bear hunts. You can purchase preference points for certain species or they can be applied to your hunting profile if you are not selected in a lottery drawing.
For example, May 1 begins the period you can apply for a black bear hunt. You can choose to apply for a license or just purchase a preference point. Before making this decision on your application, review the Bear Management Unit chart to see if you’ll have a chance of getting drawn.
The black bear hunting regulations digest has a chart that shows you points required for each bear unit and hunting period. For example, if I want to hunt in Baldwin, which only has one hunting period, I need 10-11 preference points.
TIP: As soon as my sons expressed an interest in bear hunting, I started purchasing preference points for them each year. You can buy one point per year and the cost is $5.
In contrast, if I wanted to hunt in the UP and the Newberry bear unit, I could hunt in season 3 with only 1-2 preference units. The reason this unit is lower is because there is less demand to hunt in this part of Michigan or there are fewer bears. Be sure to do research before picking a unit and a hunting season.
Lottery System for Michigan bear
Larger game hunting licenses are not as easy to acquire as a deer license in the state of Michigan. The DNR manages herds of big game with a system of choosing certain hunters who have applied for a license. So, just because you apply for a black bear license in May, does not mean you will get selected.
If you don’t have enough preference points, you don’t have a chance of being drawn for a license in the lottery system.
Michigan Bear Application Period:
For black bears in Michigan, this is May 1 – June 1. The application period is when the DNR will accept your online application for a preference point of license. Make sure you have enough points before applying for the unit you want to hunt. When the application season is over, the results will be posted online.
Leftover Licenses for Bear in Michigan
These are licenses that are still available after the initial application period and drawing selection process. Sometimes there are extra licenses left for certain hunting sones or periods because there weren’t enough applications to fill all of the available permits. If you are starting your research after June 1, this will be your best chance of hunting black bear in the same year. The leftover licenses will be available for purchase on a first come, first serve basis. You can check the DNR website for the dates and the extra chance to go bear hunting!
Michigan Bear License Quotas
A license quota for bear hunting means there’s a limit on how many hunting licenses are given out for hunting bears in a certain area during a certain time. Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages the land and bear license quotas. Each year, the DNR updates its quotas before the application window opens on May 1.
Frequently asked questions about a bear hunting license:
I missed the bear application window, what do I do?
If you missed the application window for bear licenses in Michigan, you might still have a chance! Check if there are any leftover licenses available. These are typically offered on a first-come, first-served basis after the initial application period.
How much does it cost to get a Michigan bear license?
For in-state residents, the application to draw a tag is $5. The license is $25.
How many bear licenses are available in Michigan?
Michigan is not an over-the-counter state for bear licenses. Be sure to check the Michigan.gov website. The number of licenses available will range by location and how the DNR is managing the herd each year.
Can non-residents apply for bear hunting licenses in Michigan?
Absolutely! Non-residents can hunt bears in Michigan, but their access might be more restricted than residents. They usually apply through a different process and might face different quotas or fees. Be sure to check the rules set by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources before applying!
How hard is it to get selected for a Michigan bear tag?
It can take several years to earn enough preference points to be able to hunt in a specific bear management unit. But if you are flexible and can hunt in the upper peninsula, this area is easier. My best advice, if you are young, start purchasing preference points every year for $5. You can start at age 10, if you have passed the hunter safety certification course. This is what my sons and I started doing as soon as they had their certificate.
Living in Michigan, I’ve also hunted for a black bear in Canada. There are different rules and regulations for this type of hunt. But if it’s on your bucket list, you might enjoy reading about my guided Canadian bear hunt in Manitoba. My experience was amazing!
Final Michigan Bear Hunting Tips:
Tip One: Try hunting bear in the Upper Peninsula
The UP has ample opportunity for hunting a black bear. There are over 4 million acres of forested public land. The baiting rules are less strict and more tags are available. You’ll have a better chance of securing a leftover license in the UP. I’ve hunted in Newberry and camped in a tent and a pop-up camper. The area is beautiful and a favorite for outdoor lovers!
Tip Two: Start saving preference points early!
If you take away one tip from my advice and explanations, start purchasing preference points as soon as possible if you ever want to hunt bears in Michigan. You can begin as early as age 10! I’m so glad I did. I’ve been able to hunt several times, and even completed a Michigan Grand Slam!
